Bubba Watson sits alone atop Masters leaderboard after second round

Ron Kroichick |
April 11, 2014

Britain's Prince William, left, greets local students upon arrival at Hamarikyu Gardens in Tokyo Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. William is having afternoon tea, but it will be green and served by a master in the Japanese ceremonial art in a traditional tea house.

Photo By Eugene Hoshiko/AP

Britain's Prince William, left, greets local students upon arrival at Hamarikyu Gardens in Tokyo Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. The Duke of Cambridge is having afternoon tea, but it will be green and served by a master in the Japanese ceremonial art in a traditional tea house.

Photo By Ê ãˆê ³/AP

Britain's Prince William, left, walks with Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe through the historic Hamarikyu Gardens for a tea ceremony in Tokyo Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. The Duke of Cambridge is having afternoon tea, but it will be green and served by a master in the Japanese ceremonial art in a traditional tea house. JAPAN OUT, CREDIT MANDATORY

Photo By Eugene Hoshiko/AP

Britain's Prince William, center rear, is escorted by Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe, foreground, to greet local students at Hamarikyu Gardens after arriving in Tokyo Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. The Duke of Cambridge is having afternoon tea, but it will be green and served by a master in the Japanese ceremonial art in a traditional tea house.

Photo By Eugene Hoshiko/AP

Britain's Prince William, third from left, is escorted by Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe, second from left, to greet local students at Hamarikyu Gardens after arriving in Tokyo Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. The Duke of Cambridge is having afternoon tea, but it will be green and served by a master in the Japanese ceremonial art in a traditional tea house.

Photo By Eugene Hoshiko/AP

Britain's Prince William, right, greets local students at Hamarikyu Gardens after arriving in Tokyo Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. The Duke of Cambridge is having afternoon tea, but it will be green and served by a master in the Japanese ceremonial art in a traditional tea house.

Photo By Eugene Hoshiko/AP

Local students wave flags of Britain and Japan as they wait for Britain's Prince William to arrive at Hamarikyu Gardens upon arrival in Tokyo Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. The Duke of Cambridge is having afternoon tea, but it will be green and served by a master in the Japanese ceremonial art in a traditional tea house.

Photo By Eugene Hoshiko/AP

Britain's Prince William, second from left, is escorted by Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe to greet local students at Hamarikyu Garden after arriving in Tokyo Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. The Duke of Cambridge is having afternoon tea, but it will be green and served by a master in the Japanese ceremonial art in a traditional tea house.

Photo By Eugene Hoshiko/AP

Britain's Prince William, left, greets local students upon arrival at Hamarikyu Garden in Tokyo Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. The Duke of Cambridge is having afternoon tea, but it will be green and served by a master in the Japanese ceremonial art in a traditional tea house.

Photo By Eugene Hoshiko/AP

Britain's Prince William, third from left, is escorted by Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe, second from left, to greet local students at Hamarikyu Garden after arriving in Tokyo Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. The Duke of Cambridge is having afternoon tea, but it will be green and served by a master in the Japanese ceremonial art in a traditional tea house.

Photo By Richard Drew/AP

FILE - In this Oct. 5, 2004 file photo, a youth tries a Ms. Pac-Man TV game in New York. Computers already have bested human champions in Jeopardy! and chess, but artificial intelligence now has gone to master an entirely new level: Space Invaders. Google scientists have cooked up software that can do better than humans on dozens of Atari video games from the 1980s, like video pinball, boxing, and breakout. But they don’t seem to have a ghost of a chance at Ms. Pac-Man.

Photo By Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

In this picture taken Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, British musician Jimmy Page of rock group Led Zeppelin, during an interview with Associated Press in London. Jimmy Page started the project because he couldn’t believe how bad Led Zeppelin sounded. The legacy of the band he’d devoted much of his life to was being muddied by the way its classic studio albums sounded when reproduced on the ubiquitous MP3 players that are popular today. Instead of accepting that future generations would have to hear a cramped, compressed version of Led Zep’s sonic booms, Page has devoted several years to completely re-mastering the band’s extensive catalog in a labor of love that is, with the release of “Physical Graffiti” on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015.

Photo By Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

In this picture taken Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, British musician Jimmy Page of rock group Led Zeppelin, smiles during an interview with Associated Press in London. Jimmy Page started the project because he couldn’t believe how bad Led Zeppelin sounded. The legacy of the band he’d devoted much of his life to was being muddied by the way its classic studio albums sounded when reproduced on the ubiquitous MP3 players that are popular today. Instead of accepting that future generations would have to hear a cramped, compressed version of Led Zep’s sonic booms, Page has devoted several years to completely re-mastering the band’s extensive catalog in a labor of love that is, with the release of “Physical Graffiti” on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015.

Photo By Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

In this picture taken Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, British musician Jimmy Page of rock group Led Zeppelin, laughs during an interview with Associated Press in London. Jimmy Page started the project because he couldn’t believe how bad Led Zeppelin sounded. The legacy of the band he’d devoted much of his life to was being muddied by the way its classic studio albums sounded when reproduced on the ubiquitous MP3 players that are popular today. Instead of accepting that future generations would have to hear a cramped, compressed version of Led Zep’s sonic booms, Page has devoted several years to completely re-mastering the band’s extensive catalog in a labor of love that is, with the release of “Physical Graffiti” on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015.

Photo By Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

In this picture taken Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, British musician Jimmy Page of rock group Led Zeppelin, during an interview with Associated Press in London. Jimmy Page started the project because he couldn’t believe how bad Led Zeppelin sounded. The legacy of the band he’d devoted much of his life to was being muddied by the way its classic studio albums sounded when reproduced on the ubiquitous MP3 players that are popular today. Instead of accepting that future generations would have to hear a cramped, compressed version of Led Zep’s sonic booms, Page has devoted several years to completely re-mastering the band’s extensive catalog in a labor of love that is, with the release of “Physical Graffiti” on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015.

Photo By Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

In this picture taken Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, British musician Jimmy Page of rock group Led Zeppelin, speaks during an interview with Associated Press in London. Jimmy Page started the project because he couldn’t believe how bad Led Zeppelin sounded. The legacy of the band he’d devoted much of his life to was being muddied by the way its classic studio albums sounded when reproduced on the ubiquitous MP3 players that are popular today. Instead of accepting that future generations would have to hear a cramped, compressed version of Led Zep’s sonic booms, Page has devoted several years to completely re-mastering the band’s extensive catalog in a labor of love that is, with the release of “Physical Graffiti” on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015.

Photo By Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

In this picture taken Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, British musician Jimmy Page of rock group Led Zeppelin, laughs during an interview with Associated Press in London. Jimmy Page started the project because he couldn’t believe how bad Led Zeppelin sounded. The legacy of the band he’d devoted much of his life to was being muddied by the way its classic studio albums sounded when reproduced on the ubiquitous MP3 players that are popular today. Instead of accepting that future generations would have to hear a cramped, compressed version of Led Zep’s sonic booms, Page has devoted several years to completely re-mastering the band’s extensive catalog in a labor of love that is, with the release of “Physical Graffiti” on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015.

Photo By Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

In this picture taken Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, British musician Jimmy Page of rock group Led Zeppelin, smiles during an interview with Associated Press in London. Jimmy Page started the project because he couldn’t believe how bad Led Zeppelin sounded. The legacy of the band he’d devoted much of his life to was being muddied by the way its classic studio albums sounded when reproduced on the ubiquitous MP3 players that are popular today. Instead of accepting that future generations would have to hear a cramped, compressed version of Led Zep’s sonic booms, Page has devoted several years to completely re-mastering the band’s extensive catalog in a labor of love that is, with the release of “Physical Graffiti” on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015.

Photo By Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

In this picture taken Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, British musician Jimmy Page of rock group Led Zeppelin, laughs during an interview with Associated Press in London. Jimmy Page started the project because he couldn’t believe how bad Led Zeppelin sounded. The legacy of the band he’d devoted much of his life to was being muddied by the way its classic studio albums sounded when reproduced on the ubiquitous MP3 players that are popular today. Instead of accepting that future generations would have to hear a cramped, compressed version of Led Zep’s sonic booms, Page has devoted several years to completely re-mastering the band’s extensive catalog in a labor of love that is, with the release of “Physical Graffiti” on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015.

Photo By Richard Vogel/AP

This Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015 photo shows Thai food impresario Andy Ricker posing for a photo at his restaurant in the Chinatown section of Los Angeles. A master of Thai cuisine best known for his Pok Pok eateries, Ricker is opening two Thai restaurants in the city’s Chinatown, finally expanding his eight Pok Pok restaurants, lounges and wing shops beyond Portland, Ore., and New York City.

Photo By Alastair Grant/AP

In this photo taken Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015, Gerald Sumner huntsman and master of the hounds of Kimblewick Hunt, leads off the hunt in Ibstone, England. A decade ago, Britain banned fox hunting with hounds, a centuries-old blood sport with deep roots in the countryside and strong opponents in the towns. Animal-welfare groups cheered the end of what they considered a cruel pastime reserved for the rich _ a sport Oscar Wilde dubbed "the unspeakable in full pursuit of the uneatable."

Photo By Alastair Grant/AP

In this photo taken Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015, John Sumner former master of Kimblewick Hunt, has a cup of mulled wine as he waits for the hunt to begin in Ibstone, England. A decade ago, Britain banned fox hunting with hounds, a centuries-old blood sport with deep roots in the countryside and strong opponents in the towns. Animal-welfare groups cheered the end of what they considered a cruel pastime reserved for the rich _ a sport Oscar Wilde dubbed "the unspeakable in full pursuit of the uneatable."

Photo By Alastair Grant/AP

In this photo taken Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015, Gerald Sumner huntsman and master of the hounds of Kimblewick Hunt, waits with his dogs in Ibstone, England. A decade ago, Britain banned fox hunting with hounds, a centuries-old blood sport with deep roots in the countryside and strong opponents in the towns. Animal-welfare groups cheered the end of what they considered a cruel pastime reserved for the rich _ a sport Oscar Wilde dubbed "the unspeakable in full pursuit of the uneatable."

Photo By Alastair Grant/AP

In this photo taken Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015, John Sumner former master of Kimblewick Hunt waits for the hunt to begin in Ibstone, England. A decade ago, Britain banned fox hunting with hounds, a centuries-old blood sport with deep roots in the countryside and strong opponents in the towns. Animal-welfare groups cheered the end of what they considered a cruel pastime reserved for the rich - a sport Oscar Wilde dubbed "the unspeakable in full pursuit of the uneatable."

Photo By Charles Krupa/AP

As snow flurries begin to fall again, James McMasters shovels his car out of a giant snow mound, covering his and his neighbor's cars, along Prince Street in the North End of Boston, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015. Nearly 8 feet of snowfall this winter has paralyzed greater Boston's transit system, infuriating commuters on and off the rails who may not see a return to normal for at least a month.

Photo By Mary Altaffer/AP

Morgan, a Chinese crested, competes in the Westminster Kennel Club Masters Agility Championship, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, in New York.

Photo By Mary Altaffer/AP

Bug, left, an Australian cattle dog and Highjack, an Australian shepherd watch the handler for a treat while waiting to compete in the Westminster Kennel Club Masters Agility Championship, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, in New York.

Photo By Mary Altaffer/AP

Wendy Lu, of San Jose, hugs her Pomeranian Daisy while competeing in the Westminster Kennel Club Masters Agility Championship, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, in New York.

Photo By Mary Altaffer/AP

Sadie, a cocker spaniel, competes in the Westminster Kennel Club Masters Agility Championship, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, in New York.

Photo By John Minchillo/AP

FILE- In this Feb. 8, 2014, file photo, Elf, a border collie, runs the weave pole at the first Masters Agility Championship the Westminster Kennel Club staged at Pier 94 in New York. This year’s contest on Saturday, Feb. 14, is a recent and fast-expanding addition to the nation’s premiere canine event.

Photo By John Minchillo/AP

FILE- In this Feb. 8, 2014, file photo, Spring, a Shetland sheepdog, exits the tunnel obstacle during the Masters Agility Championship the Westminster Kennel Club staged at Pier 94 in New York. On Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, some 330 dogs are set to run and spring, balance, whirl and weave the agility course at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show.

Photo By John Minchillo/AP

FILE- In this Feb. 8, 2014 file photo, Zep, a Shetland sheepdog, competes in the jumpers course alongside handler Delaney Ratner during the Masters Agility Championship at Westminster staged at Pier 94 in New York. Agility competitors span 74 dog breeds and varieties, and 15 hopefuls are mixed-breeds. The agility competition allowed them to return in 2014 to Westminster for the first time since the show’s early years in the late 1800s.

Photo By Bebeto Matthews/AP

FILE- In this Jan. 21, 2015 file photo, Karen Profenna, from New City, N.Y., gets down on hands and knees to allow Hailey, her mixed breed all American dog, to get onto her back to show tricks, during a press preview for the 139th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York. Hailey will compete in the 2nd Annual Masters Agility Championship at Westminster on Saturday.

Photo By Mattel/AP

This undated photo provided by Mattel shows an updated View-Master. Mattel and Google are trying to bring the 75-year-old View-Master into the 21st century, updating the iconic stereoscopic photo viewer with smartphone compatibility and virtual reality technology. Mattel Inc. and Google Inc. unveiled the virtual reality viewer Friday, Feb. 13, 2015 at Mattel’s New York City office. The device launches in the fall, so the companies had no finished product to show off.

Photo By Courtesy of the U.S. Navy/AP

FILE - This Aug. 18, 2014 file photo provided by the U.S. Navy shows the PCU North Dakota going through bravo sea trials in the Atlantic Ocean to determine its seaworthiness and capabilities, ahead of its Oct. 25, 2014 commissioning. Master Chief Petty Officer Tim Preabt, the submarine’s senior enlisted sailor, told North Dakota lawmakers during a visit Monday, Feb. 9, 2015, the 377-foot-long attack submarine could be deployed within two months.

Photo By Sean D. Elliot/AP

FILE - In this Oct. 24, 2014 file photo, a group from VFW Post 762 in Fargo, N.D., boards the U.S. Navy attack submarine USS North Dakota for a tour at the Navy submarine base in Groton, Conn., a day before sub was officially commissioned. Master Chief Petty Officer Tim Preabt, the submarine’s senior enlisted sailor, told North Dakota lawmakers during a visit Monday, Feb. 9, 2015, the 377-foot-long attack submarine could be deployed within two months. MANDATORY CREDIT

Photo By File/AP

FILE - In this April 14, 1970, file photo, Billy Casper, left, is helped into the Masters jacket by 1969 Masters champion George Archer after Casper won the Masters title in Augusta, Ga. Casper, a prolific winner on the PGA Tour whose career was never fully appreciated in the era of the "Big Three," died Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, at his home in Utah. He was 83.

Photo By File/AP

FILE - In this April 16, 1970, file photo, Billy Casper hit out of a trap during the Masters playoff at Augusta, Ga. Casper, a prolific winner on the PGA Tour whose career was never fully appreciated in the era of the "Big Three," died Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, at his home in Utah. He was 83.

Photo By Kimberly French/AP

This image released by Universal Pictures shows Ben Barnes, left, and Jeff Bridges in a scene from "Seventh Son."

Photo By Kimberly French/AP

This image released by Universal Pictures shows Jeff Bridges in a scene from "Seventh Son."

Photo By Kimberly French/AP

This image released by Universal Pictures shows Alicia Vikander in a scene from "Seventh Son."

Photo By Evan Agostini/Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

FILE--In this Thursday, July 10, 2014 file photo, singer Justin Timberlake performs an exclusive show for Citi, American Airlines and MasterCard cardholders at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York. Timberlake is nominated twice for the coveted album of the year upcoming Grammy Award, thanks to his guest vocals on “Brand New” from Pharrell’s album, “G I R L,” and for co-producing “Partition” on Beyonce’s self-titled release. The 2015 Grammy Awards are held Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

Photo By Rustic White Photography/HGTV.COM/AP

In this photo provided by Brian Patrick Flynn/HGTV.com, Flynn used all classic elements when designing this master bathroom for a female client. The floor tile and clawfoot tub are classic and gender neutral; however, the space was made feminine with easily changeable elements such as the crystal chandelier and lavender wall color.

Photo By Jessie Spehar/AP

This July 31, 2014 photo provided by Sanborn Western Camps shows, High Trails Counselors, Erika Davidoff, Genevieve Gregory, and Director Ariella Rogge with muddy campers on a mud hike during a rainy day activity at camp in Florissant, Colo. Making a friend, mastering a skill and the simple passage of time can help cure homesickness, experts say.

Photo By Bebeto Matthews/AP

Lynus, a Border Collie owned by Authur and Janyce Selkin, from Rhinebeck, N.Y. , jumps through a hoop during a press preview for the 139th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015, in New York. Lynus will compete in the 2nd Annual Masters Agility Championship at Westminster Feb. 16-17.

Photo By Bebeto Matthews/AP

Karen Profenna, from New City, N.Y., gets down hands and knees to allow Hailey, her mixed breed all American dog, to get onto her back to show tricks, during a press preview for the 139th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015, in New York. Hailey will compete in the 2nd Annual Masters Agility Championship at Westminster Feb. 16-17.

Photo By David Goldman

Amateur Guan Tianlang, of China, putts on the ninth green during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 11, 2013, in Augusta, Ga.

Photo By David Goldman

Amateur Guan Tianlang, of China, tees off on the eighth hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 11, 2013, in Augusta, Ga.

Photo By Matt Slocum

From left, Adam Scott, of Australia, Angel Cabrera, of Argentina, and Sergio Garcia, of Spain, walk across the Nelson Bridget with their caddies during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 11, 2013, in Augusta, Ga.

Photo By Charlie Riedel

Sergio Garcia, of Spain, reacts to a missed putt on the 13th green during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 11, 2013, in Augusta, Ga.

Photo By Kathy Willens,File

FILE-This June 15, 2002 file photo shows Nick Faldo reacting after missing a birdie putt on the second green during the third round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship at the Black Course of Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, N.Y. Always a thinker, Faldo was looking for the secret to winning when he met with Ben Hogan and asked him what it takes to win the U.S. Open. "Shoot the lowest score," Hogan replied. Faldo, a three-time Masters and British Open champion, never quite figured that out. Even during his 10-year run in the majors, and despite have U.S. Open qualities of accuracy off the tee and grinding away at pars, his best chance came in 1988 at The Country Club. He was tied with Curtis Strange with three holes to play when Faldo took bogey from the bunker. Still tied after Strange three-putted the 17th, Faldo had a 25-foot putt from the fringe to win and settled for par. Strange made a superb bunker save on the 18th for par to force a playoff. Strange wound up winning the playoff by four shots for the first of his consecutive U.S. Open titles.

Photo By Matt Slocum

Sean O'Hair watches his shot out of a bunker on the second hole during the fourth round of the Masters golf tournament Sunday, April 8, 2012, in Augusta, Ga.

Photo By Charlie Riedel

Phil Mickelson pumps his fist after a birdie putt on the 18th green during the third round of the Masters golf tournament Saturday, April 7, 2012, in Augusta, Ga.

Photo By Curtis Compton/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Phil Mickelson pumps his fist sinking a eagle putt on the 13th green during the third round of the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on Saturday, April 7, 2012, in Augusta, Ga (AP Photo/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Curtis Compton) MARIETTA DAILY OUT; GWINNETT DAILY POST OUT

Photo By Matt Slocum

Tiger Woods reacts to his tee shot on the 16th hole during the second round of the Masters golf tournament Friday, April 6, 2012, in Augusta, Ga.

Photo By Ben Margot

A hole in the front door of a Dublin, Calif. home marks the entry point of an errant cannonball fired during a filming of an episode of "Mythbusters" Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011. Sheriff's deputies are still measuring how, exactly, the cannonball flew from a bomb range in the rolling hills flanking a suburban San Francisco Bay area neighborhood and rocketed into the front door of a home and through its master bedroom before landing in a neighbor's parked minivan.

Photo By Ben Margot

Children gather at the front door of a Dublin, Calif. home where an errant cannonball fired during a filming of an episode of "Mythbusters" entered the home Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011. Sheriff's deputies are still measuring how, exactly, the cannonball flew from a bomb range in the rolling hills flanking a suburban San Francisco Bay area neighborhood and rocketed into the front door of a home and through its master bedroom before landing in a neighbor's parked minivan.

Photo By Ben Margot

"Mythbusters" stars Adam Savage, right, and Jamie Hyneman approach the home damaged by an errant cannonball fired during a filming of an episode of their show, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011 in Dublin, Calif. Sheriff's deputies are still measuring how, exactly, the cannonball flew from a bomb range in the rolling hills flanking a suburban San Francisco Bay area neighborhood and rocketed into the front door of a home and through its master bedroom before landing in a neighbor's parked minivan.

Photo By Ben Margot

"Mythbusters" stars Adam Savage, left, and Jamie Hyneman approach the home damaged by an errant cannonball fired during a filming of an episode of their show, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011 in Dublin, Calif. Sheriff's deputies are still measuring how, exactly, the cannonball flew from a bomb range in the rolling hills flanking a suburban San Francisco Bay area neighborhood and rocketed into the front door of a home and through its master bedroom before landing in a neighbor's parked minivan.

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Gerry Lester Watson, aka Bubba, is a true original.

This can be a good thing, as when he curves a ridiculous recovery shot out of the forest to win the 2012 Masters. Or when he preposterously carries a 9-iron shot 186 yards, as he did Thursday at Augusta National. Or when he offers amusing homespun quips, as he did in his post-round news conference Friday.

It also can be a bad thing, as when Watson glares and mutters at his caddie, Ted Scott, after putts don't behave as expected (this happened at least twice Friday). Or when, as Watson did during the PGA Tour event at Riviera in February, he barks, "Wrong club, wrong club, wrong club!" and kicks the offending 9-iron upon hitting a wayward shot.

This is all part of the complicated package with Bubba Watson, the tall southpaw from tiny Bagdad, Fla.

Watson returned to the major championship spotlight by shooting 68 in Friday's second round of the Masters. That pushed him to 7-under-par for the tournament and gave him a three-stroke lead over John Senden (68) heading to the weekend. Adam Scott (72) and Jordan Spieth (70) headline the group at 3-under.

Most of the players in immediate pursuit of Watson bring little history of success on golf's biggest stages. Among the next 13 players on the leaderboard, only Scott, Fred Couples and Jim Furyk have won a major– and Couples earned his green jacket 22 years ago. Furyk won the U.S. Open in 2003 and Scott won last year's Masters.

They're all chasing a distinctive character in Watson, who stands 6-foot-3, uses a pink-shafted driver and has never had a lesson or swing coach. He also loathes hitting the ball straight. Check out his stance sometimes – often comically wide-open, as Watson tries to shape the ball this way and that.

He's an appealing character, in many ways. Asked about his golf "hangover" after winning the Masters two years ago – Watson plunged from fifth on the money list in 2012 to 44th last year – he offered a candid reply.

"I was still celebrating my green jacket," Watson said, smiling and looking at the reporter who asked the question. "How many green jackets you got? If you had one, you would celebrate it for a year or two."

Watson's celebration clearly affected his game. He barely made the cut in last year's Masters, going out as a single to christen the third round (he will go out in the final pairing Saturday). And he didn't even make the U.S. Presidents Cup team, after representing his country the three previous years.

After the laughter subsided, Watson turned serious in an effort to explain his sluggish play in 2013.

"You've got to think about where I've come from – my mom having two jobs to pay for my golf and my dad working in construction," he said. "So it's an accomplishment for a guy named Bubba, with my mom and my upbringing, (to win the Masters). My career was complete after that win.

"So, yeah, obviously I was going to have a hangover from the green jacket."

The unappealing side of Watson's personality mostly surfaces when shots go awry. He tends to complain and shift blame, as if the conditions conspired against him or Scott supplied bad advice. Scott declined comment when approached by reporters after Friday's round.

At any rate, Watson's game suits Augusta National – he hits the ball high and far. He's one of the most athletic players on tour, which shows in his mammoth drives and soaring wedge shots.

"I guess you could say I can hit any shot with any club," Watson said.

He created some separation from the pack by making five consecutive birdies Friday, from No. 12 through No. 16. Watson shrugged it off, pointing out that his length off the tee allows him to routinely reach the par-5s (Nos. 13 and 15) in two shots. So he expects birdies there.

Now he needs to play with the lead Saturday, a potentially unnerving prospect given Watson's jumpiness. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson won't be around on the weekend, but several genuine threats remain – including Scott, the defending champion, at 3-under (four shots back); Spieth, also at 3-under; and Furyk, grinding away as always, at 2-under.